Locomotive crane



Jan. 3, 1939. R. a. LJUNGKULL 2,142,360

LOCOMOTIVE CRANE Filed Nov. 7-, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2- 1 3 INVENTOR. gj'filjalz fizzll R0 BY Jam 9- R. E. LJUNGKULL 2,142,360

-' LOCVOMOTIVE CRANE I Filed Nov. 7, 1956 I 6 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR. E01 figural-fizz Z Z ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1939.

R. E. LJUNGKULL 2,142,360

Locomowrvm CRANE Filed Nov. 7, .1936

6 Sheets-Sheet-G II'INIVENTOR. Boyd. ljaiz izzll BY 7d: 03M

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1939 PATENT orrlcs LOCOMOTIVE CRANE.

Rolf E. Ljungkull, St.

Paul, Minn, assignor to American Hoist and Derrick Company, St. Paul, Minn a, corporation of Delaware Application November 7, 1936, Serial No. 109,742

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a locomotive crane, or like machine, and has more especial reference to a machine of the character adapted to travel on railroad or other tracks and equipped with mechanism for hoisting, swinging and/0r excavating, etc. Machines of the general type which the invention presents are used in connection with the repair and laying of track rails, the alteration of trackage, and for other well known purposes.

It is often desirable that a machine of the nature of a locomotive crane be equipped with some arrangement of means whereby the machine can be readily, quickly and easily removed from railroad or other tracks, as, for example, to allow travel along the tracks and past the machine of passenger or freight trains.

An object of the invention is to provide a 1000 motive crane, or like machine, which will include a novel and improved arrangement of means for removing the crane or machine from traveling rails therefor.

A further object is to provide a locomotive crane, or like machine, which will include means for removing the crane or machine from traveling rails therefor and will also include mechanisms associated with said removing means in novel and improved manner.

A further object is to provide a locomotive crane, or like machine, having means for removing the crane or machine from traveling rails therefor, and which crane or machine will include various improved features and characteristics of construction novel both as individual entities of the crane or machine and in combination with each other.

A further object is to provide a locomotive crane, or like machine, which will include a driven member upon a car body or truck of said crane or machine adapted to travel on main track rails, a drive member upon said driven member, idler wheels upon said car body or truck, set-off rails adapted to be laid across said main track rails in supporting relation to said idler wheels, a rack member, or equivalent, adapted to be engaged by said drive member when said idler wheels are supported by said set-off rails, and means for actuating the driven member, whereby to propel the crane or machine off said main track rails to one or the other side thereof, depending upon the direction in which the driven member is actuated.

A further object is to provide a locomotive crane, or like machine, equipped with one or more drive gears arranged upon a driven member or members of the crane or machine and adapted to be brought into mesh with one or more rack members associated with set-01f rails designed to be laid crosswise of main track rails upon which said crane or machine is adapted to travel, and also equipped with idler wheels adapted to be supported by said set-off rails while at least one of said drive gears is in mesh with at least one of said rack members, whereby when a driven member of the crane or machine is actuated, while said idler wheels are supported by said set-off rails and a drive gear upon said driven member is in mesh with one of said rack members, said crane or machine will be propelled off of said main track rails to one or the other side thereof, depending upon the direction in which said driven member is actuated.

A further object is to provide a locomotive crane, or like machine, which will include a car body or truck, a platform or deck rotatably supported upon said car body or truck, working mechanism upon said rotatable platform or deck, main wheels upon said car body or truck adapted to travelon main track rails, a prime mover upon said rotatable platform or deck for driving said main wheels either mechanically or electrically and in either direction, forwardly or rearwardly, and a novel and improved arrangement of means associated with a member upon said car body or truck and adapted to be driven in either direction by said prime mover for removing said crane or machine from said main track rails.

A further object is to provide a locomotive crane, or like machine, which will include a car body or truck, a platform or deck rotatably sup ported upon said car body or truck, working mechanism upon said rotatable platform or deck, as for, hoisting, swinging, etc., main wheels upon said car body or truck adapted to travel upon main track rails, a prime mover upon said rotatable platform or deck for driving said working mechanism and for propelling said main wheels in either direction, forwardly or rearwardly, means upon said car body or truck included as a part of the driving connection between said prime mover and said main wheels adapted to be rota ed in either direction by said prime mover, a drive member fixed to rotate with said means, idler wheels upon said car body or truck and situated at right angles to said main wheels, set-off rails adapted to be laid across said main track rails in supporting relation to said idler Wheels, and a rack member, or equivalent, adapted tobe engaged by said drive member while said idler wheels are supported by said set-off rails, the

rack member, or equivalent, being fixed relatively to said main track rails and extending crosswise thereof, whereby when said means is actuated in either direction while said idler wheels are supported by said set-off rails the crane or machine will be propelled in corresponding direc tion off of said main track rails to one side thereof.

A further object is to provide a locomotive crane, or like machine, of the general character as stated, which will include a type of combination set-off rail and rack member of novel and improved construction for engagement by a drive member of the crane or machine.

A further object is to provide a locomotive crane, or like machine, of the general character as stated, which will include a rack member, or equivalent, and a rotatable driven gear, or equivalent, adapted to cooperate with each other in novel and improved manner in the operation of removing the crane or machine from main track rails.

And a further object is to provide a-locomotive crane, or like machine, which will include a novel and improved arrangement of means, for removing the crane or machine from main traveling rails therefor, constituted as a rotatable gear driven through the instrumentality of a prime mover of said crane or machine, a rack member with which said rotatable gear cooperates, set-off rails adapted to be laid across said main traveling rails, and idler wheels upon the crane or machine adapted to be supported by said set-off rails.

With' the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear as the specification proceeds, the invention comprises the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as now to be fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being. understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative and intended in no way in a limiting sense, changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts being permissible so long as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a locomotive crane made according to the principles of the invention and situated upon main track rails, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the locomotive crane, parts being omitted and broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View of the locomotive cra e;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View, on a reduced scale, of the locomotive crane and main track rails of Fig. 1, additionally disclosing the set-off rails and rack members employed in the operation of removing the locomotive crane from main track rails;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 6-6 in Fig, 5;

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 1-1 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view detailing one of the duplicate drive gears and one of the duplicate rack members and the manner in which the rack members and drive gears cooperate With each other;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational View detailing a connecting hinge between sections of either set-off rail with rack member; and

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of a machine of modified construction including features of the invention.

With respect to the drawings and the numerals of reference thereon, the locomotive crane includes a car body or truck consisting of a frame I 5 having bearings l6 for front and rear axles IT rigidly supporting main traveling wheels [8. A coupling member l9 upon the frame I5 is for the purpose of coupling the locomotive crane with a different vehicle or car, which in some instances may be propelled by the locomotive crane, and in. some instances may propel said locomotive crane.

The frame l5 supports a platform or deck 20 which is rotatable on said frame. As shown, a hollow upright or standard 2| is suitably secured uponv the fram l5, and the platform or deck 20 includes a vertical opening 22 which receives said upright or standard 2|. The vertical opening 22 desirably has a bushing 23 therein in direct engagement with the hollow .upright or standard 2|,

A circumferential portion of the platform or deck 20 includes conveniently mounted rollers 24 spaced about said platform or deck and concentric with the vertical opening 22, said rollers 24 being supported upon and ridable over a bull gear 25, which is also concentric with said open ing 22 and is fixedly attached to the frame l5 in any convenient manner.

A boom upon the rotatable platform or deck 20, which boom may be of usual construction, is designated 26, and is pivoted upon a part of the platform or deck as at 21. shown) of usual construction may also be arranged upon the rotatable platform or deck. A cable 28 is for the purpose of accomplishing hoisting, or raising and lowering operations of the boom 26. A drum 29 for actuating the cable 28 is mounted upon the rotatable platform or deck. A cable 30 extends over a sheave 3| upon the outer end of the boom 26 and supports a hoisting hook 32. A drum 33 for actuating the cable 30 is also mounted upon said rotatable platform or deck.

The rotatable platform or deck 20 suitably supports a power plant or prime mover, which is as disclosed constituted as an internal combustion engine 34. The internal combustion engine includes a driven shaft 35, and a sprocket chain 36 which rides over a sprocket wheel upon said driven shaft 35 also rides over a sprocket wheel fixed upon a horizontal shaft 31 suitably mounted upon the platform or deck 20. The end of the shaft 31 opposite the sprocket chain 36 fixedly carries-a small gear 38, a portion of said small gear 38 being disclosed in Fig. 2. The small gear 38 meshes with a gear 39 fixed upon a horizontal shaft 40 directly above the shaft 31 and suitably mounted upon the rotatable platform or deck 20. The gear 39 also meshes with a gear 4| fixed upon a horizontal shaft 42 at a side of the shaft 31 and parallel therewith. Said horizontal shaft 42 is also suitably mounted upon the rotatable platform or deck. It will be seen that When the shaft 31 is driven by the internal combustion engine 34, through the instrumentality of the sprocket chain 36, both of the shafts 40 and 42 can also be driven through the instrumentality of the gears 38, 39 and 4|.

The drums 29 and 33 are carried by the horizontal shaft 4!! and are normally loose upon said shaft. Said drums 29 and 33 are adapted to be A mast (not i rotated, independently of each other, with said shaft 46. A clutch, denoted generally at 43, is for the purpose of clutching the drum 29 to the shaft 40, and a clutch lever 44 is for actuating said clutch 43 to operative and inoperative positions. A clutch, denoted generally at 45, is for the purpose of clutching the drum 33 to said shaft 46, and a clutch lever 46 is for actuating said clutch 45 to operative and inoperative positions. The clutches 43 and 45 are of ordinary construction and are operated in well known manner requiring no further description herein.

Each drum 29 and 33 is as disclosed provided with a brake 41. The brakes 41 may be of well known construction. In Fig. 2, numeral 48 indicates a braking pedal for operating the brake 41 associated with the drum 29, and 49 indicates a braking pedal for operating. the brake 41 associated with the drum33.

The shaft 42 conveniently supports oppositely disposed bevel gears, represented 50 and 5|, respectively, each normally loose on said shaft 42. The bevel gears 56 and 5| mesh with a larger bevel gear 52 fixed upon a vertical shaft 53 suitably mounted in bearings 54 fixed upon the rotatable platform or deck 20. Said vertical shaft 53 fixedly carries a pinion 55 at its lower end which meshes with the teeth of the bull gear 25. The bevel gears 56 and 5| mesh with portions of the larger gear 52 at the opposite sides of the vertical shaft 53, and clutches 56 are for separately clutching said bevel gears 50 and 5| to said shaft 62. A single clutch lever 51 is for actuating each of the clutches 56, the arrangement being such that both clutches 56 may be inoperative, or either one, but not both, operative to clutch one or the other of the bevel gears 50 and 5| to the shaft 42. Evidently, when the bevel gear 50 is clutched to the shaft 42 andsaid shaft is rotated,

the larger gear 52, with the vertical shaft 53 and the pinion 55, will be rotated in one direction, and when the bevel gear 5| is clutched to said shaft 42 and the shaft is rotated, said larger gear 52, with the vertical shaft 53 and the pinion 55, will be rotated in opposite direction. Rotation of the pinion 55 in either direction will, obviously, cause the platform or deck 2|! to be rotated in direction to correspond about its axis, by reason of the engagement of said pinion 55 with the bull gear 25. The specific arrangement for clutching the bevel gears 59 and 5| to the shaft 42 is well known and requires no fuller description herein.

A brake 58 for the shaft 42, and hence for the rotatable platform or deck 20, may be of any suitable construction, and said brake 58 may be actuated by means of a braking pedal 59, similar to the braking pedals 48 and 49. A brake such as 58 is ordinary equipment of machines of the present general character, and, therefore, requires no further description herein.

The clutches 43 and 45 may be inoperative when the brakes are applied to the drums 29 and In addition, there may be included any suitable type of means well known in the present art for disconnecting the shaft 49 from driving connections when a brake is applied to either drum 29 or 33. Also, there will be included a suitable type of well known means for disconnecting the shaft 42 from driving connections when the brake is applied to said shaft 42.

The shaft 3? conveniently supports oppositely disposed bevel gears, represented 6|) and 6|, respectively, each normally loose on said shaft 31. The bevel gears 66 and 6| mesh with a smaller bevel gear 62 fixed upon a vertical shaft 63 suitably mounted in bearings 64 supported by the hollow upright or standard 2|. The vertical shaft 63 is a propelling shaft for the vehicle and extends downwardly through the hollow upright or standard to position below the frame 15, about as shown in Fig. 3. A casing 65 on the car body or truck is associated with the lower end of the hollow upright or standard 2|, and the lower por tion of the vertical shaft 63 fixedly carries a bevel gear 66 which is situated in said casing 65. The bevel gears 60 and 6| mesh with portions of the smaller gear 62 at the opposite sides of the vertical shaft 63, and clutches 10 are for separately clutching said bevel gears 66 and 6| to said shaft 31. A single clutch lever 61 is for actuating each of the clutches 16 for the bevel gears 66 and 6|. The arrangement is such that both clutches 16 may be inoperative, or either clutch, but not both, may be operative to clutch one or the other of said bevel gears60 or 6| to the shaft 31. Evidently, when the bevel gear 66 is clutched to the shaft 31 and said shaft is rotated, the smaller gear 62, with the vertical propelling shaft 63 and the bevel gear 66, will be rotated in one direction, and when the bevel gear 6| is clutched to said shaft 31 and the shaft is rotated, said smaller gear 62, with the vertical propelling shaft 63 and the bevel gear 66, will be rotated in opposite direction. Said bevel gear 66 is connected up, in a manner to be set forth, to drive the main traveling wheels l8, and the direction of rotation of said bevel gear 66 determines the direction of travel of said main wheels I8, to propel the locomotive crane forwardly or rearwardly, as the case may be. The specific arrangement for clutching the bevel gears 60 and 6| to the shaft 31 is well known and requires no further description herein.

A brake 68 for the shaft 31, and hence for the vertical propelling shaft 63, may be of any suitable construction, and' said brake 68 may be actuated by means of a braking pedal 69, similar to the braking pedals 48, 49 and 59. A -brake such as 68 is ordinary equipment of machines of the present general character, and requires no further description herein.

The internal combustion engine 34 will include a usual clutch manipulatable to operative and inoperative positions by a clutch pedal 1| adjacent to the clutch pedals 48, 49, 59 and 69. The brake 69 will of course be operated to bring the shafts 31 and 63, and hence the locomotive crane, to stationary position while the engine clutch is in inoperative position. The clutches 16 for the bevel gears 66 and 6| will ordinarily both be in inoperative positions when the car body or truck of the locomotive crane is in stationary position and the shafts 40 and/or 42 are driven, through instrumentalities including the shaft 31.

It will be evident that when the engine clutch is in inoperative position, the sprocket chain 36 and all of the mechanisms driven thereby will be disconnected from the internal combustion engine. When'the engine clutch is in operative position and the internal combustion engine is operating, the shaft 31 will be rotated. Said shaft 31 can selectively be out of driving connection with the vertical propelling shaft 63 or connected up with said shaft 63 to drive it in either direction, to propel the locomotive crane forwardly or rearwardly, depending upon whether the shaft 31 is rotating and while the shaft 42 is rotating or stationary. Similarly, said shaft 42 can be selectively rotated or not rotated while the shaft 31 is rotating and either or both drums 29 and 33 are rotating or stationary. When the shaft 42 is operating, the shaft 53 may be rotated in either direction or remain stationary. And all of the brakes and clutches are capable of independent actuation, the operating parts as a whole being adapted to satisfactorily accomplish all of the working operations in the machine, as well as to accomplish mechanical propulsicn of the machine.

The locomotive crane includes a variable speed transmission located in the casing 65, a gear shifter 12 being for the purpose of manipulating or shifting the gears of said transmission in customary manner. The transmission includes shiftable gears 13 slidably mounted upon. a horizontal shaft 14 suitably and conveniently mounted in the transmission casing 65. The horizontal shaft 14 fixedly carries a bevel gear 15.with which the bevel gear 66 meshes. The shiftable gears 13 are adapted to be selectively brought into engagement with gears 16 fixed upon a horizontal driven shaft 11 mounted in said casing E5. The opposite end portions of the horizontal shaft 1'! extend out of and beyond the transmission casing 65, and each end portion of said horizontal shaft 11 is suitably mountedin a gear box 18 fixed upon the frame [5, there being one of the gear boxes 18 adjacent to each of the front and rear axles 11. Each end of the horizontal shaft 11 fixedly carries a bevel gear 19 situated in the corresponding gear box 18. Each bevel gear 19 meshes with a bevel gear 80 upon a horizontal shaft 8| mounted in the corresponding gear box, and also mounted, as at 82, upon the frame l5. Each horizontal shaft 8| is adjacent to and parallel with an axle l1, and slidably supports a shiftable gear 83 adapted to be brought into .and out of mesh with a gear 84 fixed upon the adjacent axle l1, as by employment of a gear shifter 85.

It will be evident that upon rotation of the propelling shaft 63, and with it the bevel gear 66, in either direction, the main traveling wheels I 8 at front and rear of the car body or truck will be rotated in corresponding direction, through the instrumentality of the bevel gear 15, the shaft 14, the variable speed transmission when operative, the horizontal driven shaft 11, each set of bevel gears 19 and 80, the shafts 8|, and each set of gears 83 and 84, to propel the locomotive crane, either forwardly or rearwardly as the case may be.

The gear shifters 85 are present and the gears 83 are shiftable into and out of mesh with the gears 84 to the purpose that the front and rear axles 51, I1 can be released from operative connection with the driving mechanism therefor, as when the locomotive crane is to be propelled by an attached car or vehicle. At times when the locomotive crane is being propelled by its own power to drive the main track wheels 18, the gears 83 and 84 of each set are in mesh.

The variable speed transmission disclosed includes capacity for two different speeds. The internal combustion engine can of course itself include capacity for additional different speeds. Desirably, the locomotive crane will have capacity for four different speeds, that is, high, third, second and low.

The main track wheels 18 of the locomotive crane are adapted to travel on main track rails 86 which are of ordinary construction to the accomplishment of their intended purpose, and an arrangement of means is provided for conveniently and quickly removing said locomotive crane from main track rails, as of railroad or other tracks. That is, the locomotive crane is equipped with mechanism through the instrumentality of which it can be shifted laterally while above the elevation of main track rails and thus removed from said main track rails, as, for example, to allow passage of passenger or freight trains or vehicles.

As disclosed, the horizontal driven shaft 11 fixedly carries spaced apart drive members or gears 81, including a drive member or gear 81 at each side of the transmission casing and adjacent to a gear box 18. As shown more clearly in Fig. 8, each drive gear 81 is a split member detachably secured, as at 88, to the horizontal driven shaft 11. The drive members or gears 81 are, evidently, adapted to be rotated in either direction by the prime mover or internal combustion engine 34 upon the rotatable platform or deck 20, inasmuch as said drive members or gears 81 are fixed to the horizontal driven member 11 included as a part of the driving connection between said prime mover or internal combustion engine and the main track wheels l8, which main track wheels are capable of being driven to propel the locomotive crane in either direction, forwardly or rearwardly. While two drive members or gears 81 are included and may be desirable in certain instances, only one drive member or gear such as 81 is essential, as will become apparent.

The locomotive crane includes two sets of flanged idler wheels 89 arranged in pairs. That is, there are two sets of idler wheels of two idler wheels each, including a forward set of transversely alined idler wheels just in advance of the forward drive member or gear 81 and a rearward set of transversely alined idler wheels just to the rear of the rearward drive member or gear 81. The idler wheels are disposed in right angle relation to the main drive or travel wheels. Each of the four idler wheels employed is adjacent a corner of the frame [5 of the car body or truck and is suitably and conveniently mounted, as at 90, in a bracket 9| secured to said frame, as at 92. The brackets 9i extend downwardly from the frame 15. As shown, the flanged idler wheels at each side, respectively, of the car body or truck are situated between and in spaced relation to the main track wheels at the corresponding side of said car body or truck, in aligning relation with said main track wheels and with each other.

Apair of sets 93 of set-off rails are provided, including a set of set-off rails corresponding to each transversely arranged pair or set of flanged idler wheels 89. As shown, a rack member 94, or equivalent, is associated with each set 93 of set-off rails, there being a rack member 94 corresponding to each drive member or gear 81. When only one drive member or gear 81 is employed there need be but one rack member associated with one of the sets of set-off rails. The other set of set-off rails can be without a rack member. Speaking generally, when the locomotive crane is to be shifted laterally and removed from main track rails such as 86, the sets 93 of set-off rails are laid across the main track rails and the idler wheels of each transversely arranged pair or set of flanged idler wheels are positioned upon each set of set-off rails. The arrangement is such that when the flanged idler wheels are upon the set-off rails, the teeth of each drive member or gear 81 are in mesh with the teeth of a corresponding rack member 94. Desirably, the outer portions of the teeth of the drive gears and rack members, respectively, are in clearing relation to the bodies of said ra'ck members and drive gears, as disclosed in Fig. 8, so that while the drive gears 81 and the rack members 94 intermesh, none of the weight of the locomotive crane is taken by said drive gears and rack members. Instead, all of the weight is supported by the setoif rails and idler wheels, as will be understood. When the set-off rails are arranged across main track rails, the portions of the set-off rails over said main track rails are directly supported thereby, as will be apparent from Figs. 5 and 6, while the portions of said set-off rails at the side of the main track rails are supported by specially laid and built-up ties 95, or. the like, as will be clear from Figs. 5 and 7.

It will be apparent that each set of set-off rails with rack member could be a single length structure, but for convenience each set of set-off rails with rack member includes at least two separately built portions or structures, denoted 96 and 91, respectively, which are hingedly connected, as at 98, end to end and are adapted to be brought into alining relation, as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 5, so that in the instance of each set of set-off rails, the set-off rail portions of the separately built structures 96 and 91 when alined provide a continuous supporting or bearing surface lying in a single plane for the idler wheels, and the rack member portions of said separately built structures when alined provide a continuous rack surface lying in a single plane adapted to be engaged by one of the drive members or gears 81, as will be understood, the continuous rack surface as shown being parallel with the continuous supporting or bearing surface and in about the horizontal plane thereof in the instance of each set of set-off rails. One set of set-off rails is a left set, and the other set of setoff rails is a right set. The rack member portions are in each instance secured to the inner sides of the separate portions of the different sets of set-off rails, in order to aline with the drive members or gears 81 which are as disclosed at the inner sides of the flanged idler wheels 89.

Each portion or structure 96 of each set of set-off rails as shown may include an ordinary rail 99 to the bottom of which a spacing or lift member I is welded, the purpose of said spacing or lift member I00 being to make provision for clearance between the main traveling wheels I8 and the main track rails 86, when the idler wheels 39 are upon set-off rails laid across said main track rails, additional to the clearance which would be provided by the ordinary rails 99 alone. That is, the ordinary rails 99 and the spacing or lift members I00 together provide the necessary lift in the embodiment of the invention as disclosed for situating the main traveling wheels I8 in clearing relation to the main track rails 86 necessary for movement of the locomotive crane transversely of said main track rails. The spacing or lift members I00 need only extend along parts of the portions or structures 96 which directly engage the main track rails 86. Each portion or structure 91 of each set of set-off rails as shown includes an ordinary rail IOI, similar to each ordinary rail 99 without its spacing or lift member I00, and the ties 95, or the like, are built up under the portions or structures 91 to elevation above the main track rails. Note the comparative relation of the rails 99 and IN in Figs. 6 and '7. That is, when the set-off rails are in operative position across main track rails, the supporting or bearing surfaces of the portions or structures 96 and 91 of each set-off rail are in horizontal alinement. The supporting or bearing surfaces of the different set-off rails will be in a single plane the position of which will be determined by the grade of the trackage. The difierent set-off rails will lie in a horizontal plane when the grade of the trackage is zero.

Each portion of each rack member 94 includes a flange part I02 by means of which the rack portions are supported upon the rails 99 and IOI, respectively, each flange part I02 being bolted to a rail as at I93. The rack members and their flange parts may include webs I04 for providing strength. Certain of the bolts I03 which secure the rack portions to the inner sides of the rails may also secure the elements I05 of the hinges 96 to the rails, as will be obvious. To save material and reduce weight the flanges I02 can be cut away at intervals, as at I06.

To remove the locomotive crane from the main track rails 86, the car body or truck of said locomotive crane will be caused to travel on said main track rails to location where the flanged idler wheels 89 of each transverse pair or set of idler wheels are opposite one of the sets of set-off rails when the sets of set-off rails are at position where it is desired to remove the locomotive crane from the main track rails. The two sets of set-off rails will of course be located at distance apart equal to the distance between idler wheels 89 at each side of the car body or truck; With the set-off rails and rack members situated as in full lines in Fig. 5, the locomotive crane will be elevated,in any convenient manner, the portions or structures 96 will be swung from their full line positions in Fig. 5 to their dotted line positions in said figure, to be located beneath the idler wheels 89, and the locomotive crane will be lowered to situate said idler wheels upon the supporting or bearing surfaces of said portions or structures 96, as disclosed in Fig. 6. When the flanged idler wheels 89 are supported by the set-off rails, the teeth of the drive members or gears 81 will be engaged with the teeth of the rack members 94, as before set forth. Upon rotation of the horizontal driven shaft 11 in intended direction, by means of the prime mover or internal combustion engine 34 and the mechanism as already described, the drive members or gears 81 will be caused to ride longitudinally over the rack members 94, toward and to one side or the other of the main track rails 86, the idler wheels 69 will be caused to roll in corresponding direction longitudinally of the set-off rails 93, and the locomotive crane will thus obviously be shifted transversely away from position over the main track rails to one side thereof. When the locomotive crane is shifted laterally of main track rails to the desired position, the engine clutch will be moved to inoperative position by means of the clutch pedal 1 I, and the movement of said locomotive crane will be arrested by application of the brake 68 through operation of the braking pedal 69. Said brake 68 functions in the same manner to bring the locomotive crane to stationary position upon the set-off rails 93 as it does to stop said locomotive crane upon the main track rails 86. To place the locomotive crane back upon the main track rails 86 the operations as described are reversed. When the drive members or gears 81 are being propelled to remove the locomotive crane from the main track rails, the gear shifters may be situated to position the gears 83 out of mesh with the gears 84, so that the main track wheels I8 will be stationary while the locomotive crane is being shifted laterally.

The working mechanism itself of the locomotive crane can be conveniently employed to situate the idler wheels 89 upon the set-off rails 93 when said set-off rails are laid across main track rails by engagement of the hook 32 with a rail or tie and operation of the drum 33 to shorten the portion of the cable 30 between said book 32 and the sheave 3i. Thus the car body or truck can be tilted to separately cause the front end portion and the rear end portion thereof to be lifted so that set-off rails can be placed beneath the idler wheels. That is, the cable 30 with. hook 32 can be manipulated to elevate one end of the car body or truck so that one of the set-off rails can be situated beneaththe idler wheels at the elevated end of said car body or truck, and thereafter said, cable with hook'can be manipulated to elevate theother end of the car body or truck so that the other set-off rail can be situated beneath the idler wheels at this same end of the car body or truck.

In Fig. 10 of the drawings'there is disclosed a bottom plan view of a machine of modified construction including features of the invention. The machine of Fig. 10 is of the character as illustrated and described in my U. S. Patent No. 2,083,460, for Excavating machine, granted June 8, 1937, and includes a pair of electric motors I01 which are adapted to be actuated or driven in either direction by electrical energy from a source (not shown), as, for example, from a generator actuated by a prime mover or internal combustion engine upon a rotatable platform or deck of the machine. Each electric motor I 01 is conveniently and rigidly secured to the under side of the frame I08, equivalent to the frame I5, of the car body or truck of the machine, at location adjacent to an axle I09 to be driven. The axles I09 are suitably mounted in bearings H0 on the frame I06 and fixedly carry main traveling wheels III. As shown, the shaft of each electric motor I01 carries a pinion I I2 which meshes with a gear H3 fixed upon a shaft H4 mounted in bearings H5 upon the frame I08, and each shaft H4 also carries a. gear I I6 which meshes with a gear I I1 fixed upon an axle I09 to be driven. A clutch for making and breaking connection between each electric motor I01 and the axle I09 driven thereby is conveniently arranged upon the shaft H4 and is represented H8, and a shifter lever for each clutch H8 is represented H9. The clutches H8 and the shifter levers H9 are for removing the electric motors I01 from driving connection with the front and rear axles I09, as when the machine is to be propelled by an attached machine.

When the machine is to proceed under its own power and drive the main track wheels III the clutches H8 are positioned so that the electric motors I01 are drivingly connected to the axles I09.

The electric motors I01 are of the reversing type. Lead wires to said motors from the source of electrical energy employed are indicated I20.

The machine of Fig. 10' is intended to include a prime mover or internal combustion engine such as 34 for operating all of the working mechanisms of the machine in about the manner as hereinbefore described, but to propel the machine electrically through the instrumentality of a generator (not shown) upon a rotatable platform or deck of the machine and driven by the prime mover or internal combustion engine and operatively connected to the electric motors I01 by employment of thelead wires I20. That is, the main traveling wheels III of the machine of Fig. 10 are driven through the instrumentality of a prime mover or internal combustion engine upon a rotatable platform or deck by the employment of electrical energy, instead of by the employment of mechanical energy as hereinbefore set forth.

The machine of Fig. 10 includes brakes I2I for the main traveling wheels HI, there being a brake I2I .upon each shaft H4. The brakes I 2| are of ordinary construction. A reach rod I22 extends inwardly from each brake HI, and each reach rod I22 is pivotally attached at its outer end, as at I23, to suitable manipulating mechanism for the corresponding brake. inner end of each reach rod I22 is pivotally attached, as at. I24, to a lever I25, and the levers {25 :are fixed upon a horizontal shaft I26 suitably mounted for rotation in bearings I21 fixedly attached to an under part of the frame I06. The levers I25 as disclosed are arranged substantially diametrically opposite each other upon the horizontal shaft I26. A braking pedal (not shown) for oscillating the horizontal shaft I26 is situated on the rotatable platform or deck upon the frame I08,-'there being suitable braking connections, indicated generally at I28, between said braking pedal and said horizontal shaft I26.

One of'the shafts H4, the one at the right hand side in Fig. 10, fixedly carries a bevel gear I29 which meshes with a bevel gear I30 fixed upon a horizontal driven shaft I3I, equivalent to the horizontal driven shaft 11, extending longitudinally of the car'body or truck of the machine. Said horizontal driven shaft I3I is suitably mounted in bearings I32 upon the under side of the frame I06.

The horizontal driven shaft I3I fixedly carries spaced apart drive members or gears I33, equivar lent to the drive members or gears 81 and for the same purpose, there being a drive member or gear I33 at the inner side of each electric motor I01 as illustrated. Said drive members or gears I33 may-be of the same general construction as the drive members or gears 81. The drive'members or gears 'I33'are, evidently, adapted to be rotated in either direction by the electrio motor I01 at the right hand side of Fig. 10, because said drive members or gears are connected to be directly driven .by said motor and the motor is reversible. While two drive members or gears I 33 are included, only one drive member or gear such as I33 is necessary, as before set forth in connection with the drive members or gears 81. Evidently, the horizontal driven shaft I3I can be connected to be propelled by both electric motors I01, when this is considered desirable, in any suitable manner.

The-machine of Fig. 10 includes two sets of flanged idlerwheels I34 arranged in pairs, the flanged idler wheels I34 being equivalent to the flanged idler wheels 89 and being similarly situated upon the car body *or truck relatively to the main traveling wheels thereof and to each other. Each idler wheel I34 is suitably and conveniently mounted, as at I35, in a bracket I36 secured to the frame I03, as at I31. The brackets I36 may be similar to the brackets 9| and may Thebear the same relation to the frame I08 as said brackets SI bear to the frame I5.

The set-off rails 93 with the rack members 94 are adapted for use in connection with the drive members or gears I33 and the flanged idler wheels I34 in substantially the manner as described in connection with the drive members or gears 8'! and the flanged idler wheels 89, except that the drive members or gears I33 are driven in either direction by one of the electric motors I3! and said drive members or gears I33 are brought to stationary position by the brake I2I upon the shaft II4 driven by said electric motor. The general manner in which the machine of Fig. 10 is elevated to and removed from the setoff rails is substantially the same as already fully described. When the idler wheels I34 rest upon the set-off rails 93, the drive members or gears I33 engage the rack members 94 in the general manner as hereinbefore described and about as disclosed in Fig. 8 of the drawings. Upon operation of the electric motor to rotate the horizontal driven shaft I3I in intended direction, the drive members or gears I33 ride longitudinally over the rack members 94 toward and to a side of the main track rails, the idler wheels I34 roll in corresponding direction longitudinally of the set-ofi rails 93, and the machine is thus shifted off of the main track rails. When the machine has reached desired position, the electric motor is de-energized and the brake I2I is applied. The machine is placed back to position over the main track rails by operation of the electric motor in direction reverse to that which caused the machine to be removed from said main track rails. When the drive members or gears I33 are being propelled to remove the locomotive crane from the main track rails, the gear shifters H9 may be situated to position the gears IIB out of mesh with the gears II'I, so that the main track wheels II I will be stationary while the locomotive crane is being shifted laterally.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a truck including main track wheels for transportation of the truck along main track rails, a driven member upon said truck adapted to be connected to said main track wheels in propelling relation thereto, a drive member upon said driven member, idler wheels upon said truck, set-off rails adapted to be laid across said main track rails in supporting relation to said idler wheels, a rack member adapted to be engaged by said drive member when said idler wheels are supported by said set-off rails, and means for actuating the driven member.

2. In a machine of the character described, a truck including main traveling wheels for transportation of the truck along main track rails, a, driven member upon said truck adapted to be connected to said main traveling wheels in propelling, relation thereto, means for selectively rotating said driven member in either direction, a rotatable drive gear fixed to said driven member, idler wheels upon said truck, set-off rails adapted to be laid across said main track rails in supporting relation to said idler wheels, and a rack member adjacent said set-ofi rails adapted to be engaged by said rotatable drive gear.

3. In a machine of the character described, a truck including main traveling wheels for transportation of the truck along main track rails, a driven member upon said truck adapted to be connected to said main traveling wheels in propelling relation thereto, means for selectively rotating .said driven member in either direction, a rotatable drive gear fixed to said driven member, idler wheels upon said truck, set-01f rails adapted to be laid across said main track rails in supporting relation to said idler Wheels, a rack member adjacent said set-01f rails adapted to be engaged by said rotatable drive gear, and means for removing said driven member from operative connection with said main traveling wheels.

4. In a machine of the character described, a

truck including main traveling wheels for transportation of the truck along main track rails, a driven member upon said truck adapted to be connected to said main traveling wheels in propelling relation thereto, means for selectively rotating said driven member in either direction, a rotatable drive gear fixed to said driven member, idler wheels upon said truck, set-off rails adapted to be laid across said main track rails in supporting relation to said idler wheels, a rack member adjacent said set-off rails adapted to be engaged by said rotatable drive gear, and braking means for said driven member.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising a car body, a platform rotatably supported upon said car body, main traveling wheels upon said car body adapted to travel upon main track rails, a prime mover upon said rotatable platform for propelling said main traveling wheels in either direction, means upon said car body included as a part of a driving connection between said prime mover and said main traveling wheels adapted to be rotated in either direction by said prime mover, a drive gear fixed to rotate with said means, idler wheels upon said car body, setoff rails adapted to be laid across said main track rails in supporting relation to said idler wheels, and a rack member adapted to be engaged by said drive gear when said idler wheels are supported by said set-off rails.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising a car body, a platform rotatably supported upon said car body, working mechanism upon said rotatable platform, main traveling wheels upon said car body adapted to travel upon main track rails, a prime mover upon said rotatable platform for driving said working mechanism and for propelling said main traveling wheels in either direction, means upon said car body included as a part of a driving connection between said prime mover and said main traveling wheels adapted to be rotated in either direction by said prime mover, a drive gear fixed to rotate with said means, idler wheels upon said car body, set-off rails adapted to be laid across said main track rails in supporting relation to said idler wheels, and a rack member adapted to be engaged by said drive gear when said idler wheels are supported by said set-off rails, said rack member being fixed relatively to said main track rails and said set-off rails.

7. In combination, a car body having idler wheels and a rotatable drive gear, set-01f rails adapted to support said idler wheels, each set-off rail consisting of a plurality of separate sections hinged to each other end to end, and a rack member adjacent to'at least one of said set-off rails and adapted to be engaged by said rotatable drive gear when said idler wheels are supported by said set-off rails, said rack member consisting of a plurality of separate sections each independently secured to a separate section of said adjacent set-01f rail.

8. In combination, a car body having idler wheels and a rotatable drivemember, set-01f rails adapted to support said idler wheels, each set-off rail consisting of a plurality of separate sections hinged to each other end to end, and a cooperating member adjacent to at least one of said setoff rails and adapted to be engaged by said rotatable drive member when said idler wheels are supported by said set-off rails, said cooperating member consisting of a plurality of separate sections each independently secured to a separate section of said adjacent set-off rail.

ROLF E. LJUNGKULL. 

